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When did “a buck†start being used to mean a unit of 100? (E.g. “a buck fifty†for 150 lbs.)
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Before you answer, please note: I'm only interested in when this usage was established in common (American) parlance. I know what the term means and I don't need it defined, nor do I require an etymology as to its origins.
That said, most of us probably already know that "a buck" in AmE is a slang expression referring to a dollar. As Etymonline notes:
buck (n.2)
"dollar," 1856, American English, perhaps an abbreviation of buckskin as a unit of trade among Indians and Europeans in frontier days (attested from 1748).
But for most of my life I've been aware that "buck" can be used broadly in the sense of 100 of something, especially when that something involves weight and money.
He goes about a buck forty sopping wet. (Meaning: He weighs about 140 pounds at his heaviest.)
She says she's making a buck eighty in her new job. (Meaning: She says her salary is $180,000 a year in her new job.)
Note, however, that we never hear multiples of this, like "four bucks" to mean 400. And the usage always seems to involve a number between 100 and 200: "a buck fifty" and so forth (the term seems to be wedded to the indefinite article: "a buck something").
It's obvious where the 100 comes from: a dollar represents 100 cents. I'm just wondering when this particular usage crept into the lexicon.
addendum
This question on EL&U demonstrates that responses involving "I've never heard that usage before" may mean this could be a regional usage, but not a non-existent one.
american-english slang numbers
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Before you answer, please note: I'm only interested in when this usage was established in common (American) parlance. I know what the term means and I don't need it defined, nor do I require an etymology as to its origins.
That said, most of us probably already know that "a buck" in AmE is a slang expression referring to a dollar. As Etymonline notes:
buck (n.2)
"dollar," 1856, American English, perhaps an abbreviation of buckskin as a unit of trade among Indians and Europeans in frontier days (attested from 1748).
But for most of my life I've been aware that "buck" can be used broadly in the sense of 100 of something, especially when that something involves weight and money.
He goes about a buck forty sopping wet. (Meaning: He weighs about 140 pounds at his heaviest.)
She says she's making a buck eighty in her new job. (Meaning: She says her salary is $180,000 a year in her new job.)
Note, however, that we never hear multiples of this, like "four bucks" to mean 400. And the usage always seems to involve a number between 100 and 200: "a buck fifty" and so forth (the term seems to be wedded to the indefinite article: "a buck something").
It's obvious where the 100 comes from: a dollar represents 100 cents. I'm just wondering when this particular usage crept into the lexicon.
addendum
This question on EL&U demonstrates that responses involving "I've never heard that usage before" may mean this could be a regional usage, but not a non-existent one.
american-english slang numbers
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
1
It doesn't sound like it means 100 of anything, just an easy metaphorical use.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Mitch: Well, of course it's metaphorical. That doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. If I say a person's head is in the clouds, that means something even though I used a metaphor. But I've adjusted the wording in my title to forestall similar objections.
– Robusto
3 hours ago
I guess I'm not sure when a metaphorical usage is considered an integral meaning of a term. To me, using 'buck' for 'a hundred' is not a distinct meaning. It doesn't change the perfectly viable question for when was the earliest use as for something having to do with a hundred other than a dollar.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
user070221's answer at least was a good reference, unfortunate that they deleted it. OED doesn't mention a use for 100, but they are somewhat conservative (takes at least 10 years and lots of usage to get in).
– Mitch
2 hours ago
Batting averages: "I hit about a buck fifty," said Gallego, who actually batted .223, "but it was one of the best seasons I ever had because I was out there." 1994
– Mitch
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Before you answer, please note: I'm only interested in when this usage was established in common (American) parlance. I know what the term means and I don't need it defined, nor do I require an etymology as to its origins.
That said, most of us probably already know that "a buck" in AmE is a slang expression referring to a dollar. As Etymonline notes:
buck (n.2)
"dollar," 1856, American English, perhaps an abbreviation of buckskin as a unit of trade among Indians and Europeans in frontier days (attested from 1748).
But for most of my life I've been aware that "buck" can be used broadly in the sense of 100 of something, especially when that something involves weight and money.
He goes about a buck forty sopping wet. (Meaning: He weighs about 140 pounds at his heaviest.)
She says she's making a buck eighty in her new job. (Meaning: She says her salary is $180,000 a year in her new job.)
Note, however, that we never hear multiples of this, like "four bucks" to mean 400. And the usage always seems to involve a number between 100 and 200: "a buck fifty" and so forth (the term seems to be wedded to the indefinite article: "a buck something").
It's obvious where the 100 comes from: a dollar represents 100 cents. I'm just wondering when this particular usage crept into the lexicon.
addendum
This question on EL&U demonstrates that responses involving "I've never heard that usage before" may mean this could be a regional usage, but not a non-existent one.
american-english slang numbers
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
Before you answer, please note: I'm only interested in when this usage was established in common (American) parlance. I know what the term means and I don't need it defined, nor do I require an etymology as to its origins.
That said, most of us probably already know that "a buck" in AmE is a slang expression referring to a dollar. As Etymonline notes:
buck (n.2)
"dollar," 1856, American English, perhaps an abbreviation of buckskin as a unit of trade among Indians and Europeans in frontier days (attested from 1748).
But for most of my life I've been aware that "buck" can be used broadly in the sense of 100 of something, especially when that something involves weight and money.
He goes about a buck forty sopping wet. (Meaning: He weighs about 140 pounds at his heaviest.)
She says she's making a buck eighty in her new job. (Meaning: She says her salary is $180,000 a year in her new job.)
Note, however, that we never hear multiples of this, like "four bucks" to mean 400. And the usage always seems to involve a number between 100 and 200: "a buck fifty" and so forth (the term seems to be wedded to the indefinite article: "a buck something").
It's obvious where the 100 comes from: a dollar represents 100 cents. I'm just wondering when this particular usage crept into the lexicon.
addendum
This question on EL&U demonstrates that responses involving "I've never heard that usage before" may mean this could be a regional usage, but not a non-existent one.
american-english slang numbers
american-english slang numbers
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
edited 1 hour ago
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
asked 3 hours ago
Robusto
125k27293503
125k27293503
1
It doesn't sound like it means 100 of anything, just an easy metaphorical use.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Mitch: Well, of course it's metaphorical. That doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. If I say a person's head is in the clouds, that means something even though I used a metaphor. But I've adjusted the wording in my title to forestall similar objections.
– Robusto
3 hours ago
I guess I'm not sure when a metaphorical usage is considered an integral meaning of a term. To me, using 'buck' for 'a hundred' is not a distinct meaning. It doesn't change the perfectly viable question for when was the earliest use as for something having to do with a hundred other than a dollar.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
user070221's answer at least was a good reference, unfortunate that they deleted it. OED doesn't mention a use for 100, but they are somewhat conservative (takes at least 10 years and lots of usage to get in).
– Mitch
2 hours ago
Batting averages: "I hit about a buck fifty," said Gallego, who actually batted .223, "but it was one of the best seasons I ever had because I was out there." 1994
– Mitch
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
1
It doesn't sound like it means 100 of anything, just an easy metaphorical use.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Mitch: Well, of course it's metaphorical. That doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. If I say a person's head is in the clouds, that means something even though I used a metaphor. But I've adjusted the wording in my title to forestall similar objections.
– Robusto
3 hours ago
I guess I'm not sure when a metaphorical usage is considered an integral meaning of a term. To me, using 'buck' for 'a hundred' is not a distinct meaning. It doesn't change the perfectly viable question for when was the earliest use as for something having to do with a hundred other than a dollar.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
user070221's answer at least was a good reference, unfortunate that they deleted it. OED doesn't mention a use for 100, but they are somewhat conservative (takes at least 10 years and lots of usage to get in).
– Mitch
2 hours ago
Batting averages: "I hit about a buck fifty," said Gallego, who actually batted .223, "but it was one of the best seasons I ever had because I was out there." 1994
– Mitch
2 hours ago
1
1
It doesn't sound like it means 100 of anything, just an easy metaphorical use.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
It doesn't sound like it means 100 of anything, just an easy metaphorical use.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Mitch: Well, of course it's metaphorical. That doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. If I say a person's head is in the clouds, that means something even though I used a metaphor. But I've adjusted the wording in my title to forestall similar objections.
– Robusto
3 hours ago
@Mitch: Well, of course it's metaphorical. That doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. If I say a person's head is in the clouds, that means something even though I used a metaphor. But I've adjusted the wording in my title to forestall similar objections.
– Robusto
3 hours ago
I guess I'm not sure when a metaphorical usage is considered an integral meaning of a term. To me, using 'buck' for 'a hundred' is not a distinct meaning. It doesn't change the perfectly viable question for when was the earliest use as for something having to do with a hundred other than a dollar.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
I guess I'm not sure when a metaphorical usage is considered an integral meaning of a term. To me, using 'buck' for 'a hundred' is not a distinct meaning. It doesn't change the perfectly viable question for when was the earliest use as for something having to do with a hundred other than a dollar.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
user070221's answer at least was a good reference, unfortunate that they deleted it. OED doesn't mention a use for 100, but they are somewhat conservative (takes at least 10 years and lots of usage to get in).
– Mitch
2 hours ago
user070221's answer at least was a good reference, unfortunate that they deleted it. OED doesn't mention a use for 100, but they are somewhat conservative (takes at least 10 years and lots of usage to get in).
– Mitch
2 hours ago
Batting averages: "I hit about a buck fifty," said Gallego, who actually batted .223, "but it was one of the best seasons I ever had because I was out there." 1994
– Mitch
2 hours ago
Batting averages: "I hit about a buck fifty," said Gallego, who actually batted .223, "but it was one of the best seasons I ever had because I was out there." 1994
– Mitch
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Personally, I don't recall ever hearing "buck" used to mean 100 of anything other than cents. I don't think this is a common usage.
Yeah, I suppose if I heard someone say, "He weighs a buck forty", I'd figure out they meant 140 pounds. But I've never heard anyone say that, and I think my first response would be, "What? What do you mean? He weights $1.40?"
When I read, "She's making a buck eighty in her new job", I took that to mean, she makes $1.80 an hour.
I suppose the weight example could be a metaphor of sorts.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bucks has lots of obscure slang terms that I never heard of, and they don't mention this "100 of anything" usage.
It's certainly possible that this is a common usage in some region or subculture that I am unfamiliar with.
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
1
I've heard it before, especially for weight.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Jay: Well, actually Urban Dictionary does mention this usage. You just have to scroll down a little because it's not the top entry.
– Robusto
1 hour ago
1
I hear it for weight commonly enough, never for $100k salary though.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
1
The fact that something is in Urban Dictionary is of negligible weight in an argument.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
As a deleted answer mentions, "buck" in this sense is in the American Heritage Dictionary (a source much more reputable than UD), so it definitely exists.
– Laurel
15 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) has four instances of "a buck eighty", and three of them refer to weight. However, they are from 2003 and 2013. COHA (Corpus of Historical American English) has only one older, from 1971; but that is the normal money sense.
iWeb has 15 examples, of which 3 are weight, and 2 are other non-money contexts (a bowling score, and a speed).
So, no, I'm afraid I can't tell you when this use arose, but I can confirm it exists, and seems to be a trifle more common in recent years.
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
It's very informal so I'm not surprised it doesn't appear much in written literature.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Personally, I don't recall ever hearing "buck" used to mean 100 of anything other than cents. I don't think this is a common usage.
Yeah, I suppose if I heard someone say, "He weighs a buck forty", I'd figure out they meant 140 pounds. But I've never heard anyone say that, and I think my first response would be, "What? What do you mean? He weights $1.40?"
When I read, "She's making a buck eighty in her new job", I took that to mean, she makes $1.80 an hour.
I suppose the weight example could be a metaphor of sorts.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bucks has lots of obscure slang terms that I never heard of, and they don't mention this "100 of anything" usage.
It's certainly possible that this is a common usage in some region or subculture that I am unfamiliar with.
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
1
I've heard it before, especially for weight.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Jay: Well, actually Urban Dictionary does mention this usage. You just have to scroll down a little because it's not the top entry.
– Robusto
1 hour ago
1
I hear it for weight commonly enough, never for $100k salary though.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
1
The fact that something is in Urban Dictionary is of negligible weight in an argument.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
As a deleted answer mentions, "buck" in this sense is in the American Heritage Dictionary (a source much more reputable than UD), so it definitely exists.
– Laurel
15 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Personally, I don't recall ever hearing "buck" used to mean 100 of anything other than cents. I don't think this is a common usage.
Yeah, I suppose if I heard someone say, "He weighs a buck forty", I'd figure out they meant 140 pounds. But I've never heard anyone say that, and I think my first response would be, "What? What do you mean? He weights $1.40?"
When I read, "She's making a buck eighty in her new job", I took that to mean, she makes $1.80 an hour.
I suppose the weight example could be a metaphor of sorts.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bucks has lots of obscure slang terms that I never heard of, and they don't mention this "100 of anything" usage.
It's certainly possible that this is a common usage in some region or subculture that I am unfamiliar with.
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
1
I've heard it before, especially for weight.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Jay: Well, actually Urban Dictionary does mention this usage. You just have to scroll down a little because it's not the top entry.
– Robusto
1 hour ago
1
I hear it for weight commonly enough, never for $100k salary though.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
1
The fact that something is in Urban Dictionary is of negligible weight in an argument.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
As a deleted answer mentions, "buck" in this sense is in the American Heritage Dictionary (a source much more reputable than UD), so it definitely exists.
– Laurel
15 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Personally, I don't recall ever hearing "buck" used to mean 100 of anything other than cents. I don't think this is a common usage.
Yeah, I suppose if I heard someone say, "He weighs a buck forty", I'd figure out they meant 140 pounds. But I've never heard anyone say that, and I think my first response would be, "What? What do you mean? He weights $1.40?"
When I read, "She's making a buck eighty in her new job", I took that to mean, she makes $1.80 an hour.
I suppose the weight example could be a metaphor of sorts.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bucks has lots of obscure slang terms that I never heard of, and they don't mention this "100 of anything" usage.
It's certainly possible that this is a common usage in some region or subculture that I am unfamiliar with.
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
Personally, I don't recall ever hearing "buck" used to mean 100 of anything other than cents. I don't think this is a common usage.
Yeah, I suppose if I heard someone say, "He weighs a buck forty", I'd figure out they meant 140 pounds. But I've never heard anyone say that, and I think my first response would be, "What? What do you mean? He weights $1.40?"
When I read, "She's making a buck eighty in her new job", I took that to mean, she makes $1.80 an hour.
I suppose the weight example could be a metaphor of sorts.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bucks has lots of obscure slang terms that I never heard of, and they don't mention this "100 of anything" usage.
It's certainly possible that this is a common usage in some region or subculture that I am unfamiliar with.
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
answered 3 hours ago
Jay
31k34589
31k34589
1
I've heard it before, especially for weight.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Jay: Well, actually Urban Dictionary does mention this usage. You just have to scroll down a little because it's not the top entry.
– Robusto
1 hour ago
1
I hear it for weight commonly enough, never for $100k salary though.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
1
The fact that something is in Urban Dictionary is of negligible weight in an argument.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
As a deleted answer mentions, "buck" in this sense is in the American Heritage Dictionary (a source much more reputable than UD), so it definitely exists.
– Laurel
15 mins ago
add a comment |Â
1
I've heard it before, especially for weight.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Jay: Well, actually Urban Dictionary does mention this usage. You just have to scroll down a little because it's not the top entry.
– Robusto
1 hour ago
1
I hear it for weight commonly enough, never for $100k salary though.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
1
The fact that something is in Urban Dictionary is of negligible weight in an argument.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
As a deleted answer mentions, "buck" in this sense is in the American Heritage Dictionary (a source much more reputable than UD), so it definitely exists.
– Laurel
15 mins ago
1
1
I've heard it before, especially for weight.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
I've heard it before, especially for weight.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Jay: Well, actually Urban Dictionary does mention this usage. You just have to scroll down a little because it's not the top entry.
– Robusto
1 hour ago
@Jay: Well, actually Urban Dictionary does mention this usage. You just have to scroll down a little because it's not the top entry.
– Robusto
1 hour ago
1
1
I hear it for weight commonly enough, never for $100k salary though.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
I hear it for weight commonly enough, never for $100k salary though.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
1
1
The fact that something is in Urban Dictionary is of negligible weight in an argument.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
The fact that something is in Urban Dictionary is of negligible weight in an argument.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
As a deleted answer mentions, "buck" in this sense is in the American Heritage Dictionary (a source much more reputable than UD), so it definitely exists.
– Laurel
15 mins ago
As a deleted answer mentions, "buck" in this sense is in the American Heritage Dictionary (a source much more reputable than UD), so it definitely exists.
– Laurel
15 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) has four instances of "a buck eighty", and three of them refer to weight. However, they are from 2003 and 2013. COHA (Corpus of Historical American English) has only one older, from 1971; but that is the normal money sense.
iWeb has 15 examples, of which 3 are weight, and 2 are other non-money contexts (a bowling score, and a speed).
So, no, I'm afraid I can't tell you when this use arose, but I can confirm it exists, and seems to be a trifle more common in recent years.
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
It's very informal so I'm not surprised it doesn't appear much in written literature.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) has four instances of "a buck eighty", and three of them refer to weight. However, they are from 2003 and 2013. COHA (Corpus of Historical American English) has only one older, from 1971; but that is the normal money sense.
iWeb has 15 examples, of which 3 are weight, and 2 are other non-money contexts (a bowling score, and a speed).
So, no, I'm afraid I can't tell you when this use arose, but I can confirm it exists, and seems to be a trifle more common in recent years.
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
It's very informal so I'm not surprised it doesn't appear much in written literature.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) has four instances of "a buck eighty", and three of them refer to weight. However, they are from 2003 and 2013. COHA (Corpus of Historical American English) has only one older, from 1971; but that is the normal money sense.
iWeb has 15 examples, of which 3 are weight, and 2 are other non-money contexts (a bowling score, and a speed).
So, no, I'm afraid I can't tell you when this use arose, but I can confirm it exists, and seems to be a trifle more common in recent years.
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
COCA (Corpus of Contemporary American English) has four instances of "a buck eighty", and three of them refer to weight. However, they are from 2003 and 2013. COHA (Corpus of Historical American English) has only one older, from 1971; but that is the normal money sense.
iWeb has 15 examples, of which 3 are weight, and 2 are other non-money contexts (a bowling score, and a speed).
So, no, I'm afraid I can't tell you when this use arose, but I can confirm it exists, and seems to be a trifle more common in recent years.
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
answered 1 hour ago
Colin Fine
61.2k167152
61.2k167152
It's very informal so I'm not surprised it doesn't appear much in written literature.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
It's very informal so I'm not surprised it doesn't appear much in written literature.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
It's very informal so I'm not surprised it doesn't appear much in written literature.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
It's very informal so I'm not surprised it doesn't appear much in written literature.
– Kevin
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
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1
It doesn't sound like it means 100 of anything, just an easy metaphorical use.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
@Mitch: Well, of course it's metaphorical. That doesn't mean it doesn't mean something. If I say a person's head is in the clouds, that means something even though I used a metaphor. But I've adjusted the wording in my title to forestall similar objections.
– Robusto
3 hours ago
I guess I'm not sure when a metaphorical usage is considered an integral meaning of a term. To me, using 'buck' for 'a hundred' is not a distinct meaning. It doesn't change the perfectly viable question for when was the earliest use as for something having to do with a hundred other than a dollar.
– Mitch
3 hours ago
user070221's answer at least was a good reference, unfortunate that they deleted it. OED doesn't mention a use for 100, but they are somewhat conservative (takes at least 10 years and lots of usage to get in).
– Mitch
2 hours ago
Batting averages: "I hit about a buck fifty," said Gallego, who actually batted .223, "but it was one of the best seasons I ever had because I was out there." 1994
– Mitch
2 hours ago